There's a teaching on the Sweet Medicine SunDance Path called the Staffs of Power. These are not physical objects, but types of maturity related to our aspects (emotional, physical, mental, spiritual, soul force). The very first one, the one upon which all the others are dependent, is related to our heart's desire - developing the ability to assume authority for it.
Sounds simple, doesn't it?
And yet, how many of us are actually good at it? I know I'm not. Perhaps I'm better than I used to be - almost certainly I'm better than I used to be. But all kinds of things interfere with even knowing my heart's desire, much less assuming authority for it.
In fact, sometimes I don't think I really even know what "heart's desire" means. Does it mean the thing I think will bring me happiness? Something that I long for? Something that will satisfy me in some way? Something that will bring pleasure? A relationship, perhaps? (A Google search on "heart's desire" turns up a bridal shop, cross stitch shop, gift shop, among other things.)
And there are so many aspects to desire - so many facets, different types and intensities, different directions of desire, which sometimes reinforce each other but often work against each other.
But maybe awareness of that tension is part of really knowing and assuming authority for my heart's desire. As I've imagined it, this "assuming authority" thing would involve being aware of and responsible for what I truly desire - whether it is something I choose to act on or not.
As 2010 draws to a close, I'm looking back and reflecting. It has been a year filled with changes and challenges. Some patterns I thought I had left behind me - this year especially related to work and food - have reappeared; at the same time, they have also shown me some new things about myself - for example, why I have developed such expertise at keeping people in my acquaintance circle rather than my friend circle. And how habit combined with allowing pressure from others to guide my priorities keeps me quite distant from my own heart's desires.
Showing posts with label sweet medicine sundance path. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sweet medicine sundance path. Show all posts
11 December 2010
10 December 2010
Dreaming in this reality
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where something needed to happen very quickly, and for that to come to pass, a bunch of other things needed to come together? And suddenly, as though someone had prepared the way for you, everything you needed to happen just happened, almost magically? People you needed to talk to suddenly appeared or called you, events were cancelled leaving you with time to care for other pieces, and so on?
This happened to me recently. It was a remarkable experience - so remarkable, in fact, that I remarked upon it to a mentor in the situation. She said, essentially, it happened that way because you dreamed it into being that way.
That is a stretch for me. And yet, it is certainly within the milieu of spiritual and personal growth, and/or pop culture (see, for example, Sweet Medicine SunDance Path Course of Study The Art of Dreaming, or Carlos Castaneda's The Art of Dreaming, or Harvey Mackay's Control Your Reality in Dreams).
I've experienced other instances of this, being at the right place at the right time for something perfect to happen. And in previous years I would probably have said, simply, sweet coincidence! Now I'm not so sure. I have a sense that there is some kind of interconnection between all things, which makes it possible either for me to know (at some still subconscious level) how to put myself in those situations, or for me to influence movements so that the situations are possible.
What do you think? Have you experienced this? Think the idea is ridiculous?
This happened to me recently. It was a remarkable experience - so remarkable, in fact, that I remarked upon it to a mentor in the situation. She said, essentially, it happened that way because you dreamed it into being that way.
That is a stretch for me. And yet, it is certainly within the milieu of spiritual and personal growth, and/or pop culture (see, for example, Sweet Medicine SunDance Path Course of Study The Art of Dreaming, or Carlos Castaneda's The Art of Dreaming, or Harvey Mackay's Control Your Reality in Dreams).
I've experienced other instances of this, being at the right place at the right time for something perfect to happen. And in previous years I would probably have said, simply, sweet coincidence! Now I'm not so sure. I have a sense that there is some kind of interconnection between all things, which makes it possible either for me to know (at some still subconscious level) how to put myself in those situations, or for me to influence movements so that the situations are possible.
What do you think? Have you experienced this? Think the idea is ridiculous?
14 August 2010
More on the concept of Spiritual Path
I finished up my last entry with a statement about finding what I needed, namely, a spiritual path. That, of course, brought up more questions for me. For example: why did I need a spiritual path? Why wasn't what I had in my church-of-origin "good enough"?
And here's the truth, sad though it may be: I needed a spiritual path because this whole connection to spirit thing was very hard for me. I could not conceive of what it was, nor how to do it. (Or, at least, say I was blocked in my conception of it.) Though I definitely got something, a variety of things, out of going to church, I felt something missing, and I did not know how to take what I had into what I was seeking.
In other words, I needed more help. I needed something that would start where I was, and that would speak to me in a language that I could understand. That is really what I was looking for.
And the very first thing I needed was a better (that is, more understandable to me), broader, different, deeper, something, understanding of what spirituality is, of what "spirit" is. Some of the first teachings (they come along in the first year of Red Lodge, for example) in the Sweet Medicine SunDance Path are related to exactly that: our human aspects (emotions, physical, mental, spiritual, and soul force) and what part they play in our lives. For me, that was very helpful indeed. Without that teaching, I'm not sure I would have made it.
So, one of the biggest gifts this Sweet Medicine SunDance Path has given to me is simply the ability to expand my understanding of what a spiritual connection is and how one might make that connection. For that, I am and will forever be grateful.
And here's the truth, sad though it may be: I needed a spiritual path because this whole connection to spirit thing was very hard for me. I could not conceive of what it was, nor how to do it. (Or, at least, say I was blocked in my conception of it.) Though I definitely got something, a variety of things, out of going to church, I felt something missing, and I did not know how to take what I had into what I was seeking.
In other words, I needed more help. I needed something that would start where I was, and that would speak to me in a language that I could understand. That is really what I was looking for.
And the very first thing I needed was a better (that is, more understandable to me), broader, different, deeper, something, understanding of what spirituality is, of what "spirit" is. Some of the first teachings (they come along in the first year of Red Lodge, for example) in the Sweet Medicine SunDance Path are related to exactly that: our human aspects (emotions, physical, mental, spiritual, and soul force) and what part they play in our lives. For me, that was very helpful indeed. Without that teaching, I'm not sure I would have made it.
So, one of the biggest gifts this Sweet Medicine SunDance Path has given to me is simply the ability to expand my understanding of what a spiritual connection is and how one might make that connection. For that, I am and will forever be grateful.
06 August 2010
What Is a Spiritual Path?
Not so long ago I asked a friend - someone I know has a variety of spiritual connections - what she considered to be her spiritual path. After some reflection, she responded that her art was her spiritual path.
That conversation set me to thinking about the meaning of "spiritual path" as opposed to "spirituality."
I grew up in a Protestant family. I went to church for many years, and had very moving spirtual experiences. But, as I look back on that time, I know that it never felt like a path. That is, I felt like I was either in or out; either connected to Christ and God, or not. And in my conversations with Christian friends, and with folks who were evangelizing, that was usually the question: have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior? If one had, then one went to heaven; if not, well, tough luck. Rather than a path, it felt more like a fork in the road.
The church I attended has grown from a rather small neighborhood church to a mini-megachurch in the years since then, so obviously what they are doing works for a lot of people. It just left me feeling like there should be more - but I didn't have any idea what that "more" might be.
Though I was aware that one could mature emotionally and physically, and continue learning, I had no concept of the development of spiritual maturity.
Years later I found the Sweet Medicine SunDance Path. In this tradition, there are progressions of ceremonies and teachings for the development of spiritual (as well as emotional, physical, and mental) maturity. I initially came in because some of the teachings were so immediately useful - but have stayed because it consistently helps me to see increasingly deeper things about myself, about life, about spirit; and gives me tools to grow with that. It's incredibly rich and varied, and has this progression - which, in my experience, works.
As I reflected on the conversation with my friend, I realized that this progression, this growth path, is exactly what I missed in my earlier Christian experience.
So, for me, there are 2 keys to "spiritual path": the connection to spirit, and a path for growth.
Now, with more knowledge and experience, I know that Christianity also provides this. Could I have found this at the church I attended early in life? Not easily. Had I wanted to become a minister, I might perhaps have found it in the education. In an earlier era, I might have found it as a nun. But my childhood church was more focused on building a cohesive community than on individual spiritual growth (beyond the necessary acceptance of Christ, of course). It wasn't quite what I was looking for.
I was looking for what I needed: a spiritual path.
That conversation set me to thinking about the meaning of "spiritual path" as opposed to "spirituality."
I grew up in a Protestant family. I went to church for many years, and had very moving spirtual experiences. But, as I look back on that time, I know that it never felt like a path. That is, I felt like I was either in or out; either connected to Christ and God, or not. And in my conversations with Christian friends, and with folks who were evangelizing, that was usually the question: have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior? If one had, then one went to heaven; if not, well, tough luck. Rather than a path, it felt more like a fork in the road.
The church I attended has grown from a rather small neighborhood church to a mini-megachurch in the years since then, so obviously what they are doing works for a lot of people. It just left me feeling like there should be more - but I didn't have any idea what that "more" might be.
Though I was aware that one could mature emotionally and physically, and continue learning, I had no concept of the development of spiritual maturity.
Years later I found the Sweet Medicine SunDance Path. In this tradition, there are progressions of ceremonies and teachings for the development of spiritual (as well as emotional, physical, and mental) maturity. I initially came in because some of the teachings were so immediately useful - but have stayed because it consistently helps me to see increasingly deeper things about myself, about life, about spirit; and gives me tools to grow with that. It's incredibly rich and varied, and has this progression - which, in my experience, works.
As I reflected on the conversation with my friend, I realized that this progression, this growth path, is exactly what I missed in my earlier Christian experience.
So, for me, there are 2 keys to "spiritual path": the connection to spirit, and a path for growth.
Now, with more knowledge and experience, I know that Christianity also provides this. Could I have found this at the church I attended early in life? Not easily. Had I wanted to become a minister, I might perhaps have found it in the education. In an earlier era, I might have found it as a nun. But my childhood church was more focused on building a cohesive community than on individual spiritual growth (beyond the necessary acceptance of Christ, of course). It wasn't quite what I was looking for.
I was looking for what I needed: a spiritual path.
07 June 2010
Appendicitis
This may be a "part 1" - appendicitis is, for me, a big topic. That's because - as you might guess - I had it not so very long ago. And it was a very significant experience.
First of all, there's the knowledge that, if it had happened in another time and place, I'd be dead. That's all. I'd just be dead. So what I have now, post-appendicitis, is in a sense a new life. I need not have had it, but I do.
Second, there's the impact of the experience. When I was feeling well enough to stand up and wash myself, I had the rather painful luxury of being able at the same time to look at myself in the mirror. It was like getting a preview of what my body would look like in 5-10 years if I didn't take care of it. It scared the heck out of me.
The combination of those two things was a little like that old movie, It's a Wonderful Life. I got to see two alternate realities, with the opportunity to choose either of them - or something different.
In the Sweet Medicine Sundance healing paradigm, an illness is sometimes referred to as a "knock of spirit." That is, it's our higher self's way of saying, hey, bud, wake up! Is this what you really want to be doing? Appendicitis was like that for me. It's easy to say that at the time something like that happens, but - speaking for myself - the proof of it really comes later. Did I really take the opportunity to change something? Or did I just make a big fuss about how profound it was and go back to exactly what I was doing before?
I was just looking at this a few days ago, and realizing that I had indeed, without really acknowledging it (though certainly intentionally), made some significant changes in my life. They're not really huge - certain things that I used to do with less dedication are not negotiable anymore; and I'm more likely to be guided by my body's needs rather than attempting to silence or distract from them.
The changes are subtle enough that, until I sat down to write to a friend and did some reflection about my life now, I had not known they were in place. I wasn't exactly trying to make them; I simply did.
First of all, there's the knowledge that, if it had happened in another time and place, I'd be dead. That's all. I'd just be dead. So what I have now, post-appendicitis, is in a sense a new life. I need not have had it, but I do.
Second, there's the impact of the experience. When I was feeling well enough to stand up and wash myself, I had the rather painful luxury of being able at the same time to look at myself in the mirror. It was like getting a preview of what my body would look like in 5-10 years if I didn't take care of it. It scared the heck out of me.
The combination of those two things was a little like that old movie, It's a Wonderful Life. I got to see two alternate realities, with the opportunity to choose either of them - or something different.
In the Sweet Medicine Sundance healing paradigm, an illness is sometimes referred to as a "knock of spirit." That is, it's our higher self's way of saying, hey, bud, wake up! Is this what you really want to be doing? Appendicitis was like that for me. It's easy to say that at the time something like that happens, but - speaking for myself - the proof of it really comes later. Did I really take the opportunity to change something? Or did I just make a big fuss about how profound it was and go back to exactly what I was doing before?
I was just looking at this a few days ago, and realizing that I had indeed, without really acknowledging it (though certainly intentionally), made some significant changes in my life. They're not really huge - certain things that I used to do with less dedication are not negotiable anymore; and I'm more likely to be guided by my body's needs rather than attempting to silence or distract from them.
The changes are subtle enough that, until I sat down to write to a friend and did some reflection about my life now, I had not known they were in place. I wasn't exactly trying to make them; I simply did.
05 May 2010
Making Changes
Several years ago, I found the absolute best system for making changes in my life that I have ever come across: the Sweet Medicine SunDance Path . The combination of teachings and ceremony on this path are hands-down the most effective tools for making conscious, proactive, holistic change that I've encountered. (I've linked above to the Red Lodge description because it comes closest to describing how the teachings, ceremony and experience fits together to create the fertile change ground I've felt.) Because of this, I've been able to make my life much better, much faster, than I had thought likely possible.
And yet - there are still places in my life where I'm just not where I want to be, where I've been stuck for a while, and I don't know how to move from where I am. Some of them are pretty important.
This week, I found myself (ok, it wasn't an accident, or unexpected) observing a workshop on making organizational change. One of the techniques they used was Force Field Analysis, a social science technique developed by Kurt Lewin. Here is a vast simplification:
However, for me, in my state of stasis, the idea that by simply increasing or decreasing the strength of one force will change the balance of forces in such a way that the change can happen - in whatever time frame - is really exciting.
It gives me a new tool, a new approach, for those things that don't respond well to the tools I have. If the nut won't come off with the open-end wrench, maybe you need a socket wrench with a long handle. If you can't pull the screw out with a hammer, maybe a screwdriver would work better.
I'm already making my list of driving and opposing forces. I'll let you know how it comes out.
Here are a couple of places to fine force field analysis information:
And yet - there are still places in my life where I'm just not where I want to be, where I've been stuck for a while, and I don't know how to move from where I am. Some of them are pretty important.
This week, I found myself (ok, it wasn't an accident, or unexpected) observing a workshop on making organizational change. One of the techniques they used was Force Field Analysis, a social science technique developed by Kurt Lewin. Here is a vast simplification:
- related to the change you desire to make, list the forces driving the change and the forces opposing
- evaluate the driving forces - which are the strongest? which can be easily increased?
- evaluate the opposing forces - which are the strongest? which can be easily weakened?
- develop a plan of action based on the above analysis
However, for me, in my state of stasis, the idea that by simply increasing or decreasing the strength of one force will change the balance of forces in such a way that the change can happen - in whatever time frame - is really exciting.
It gives me a new tool, a new approach, for those things that don't respond well to the tools I have. If the nut won't come off with the open-end wrench, maybe you need a socket wrench with a long handle. If you can't pull the screw out with a hammer, maybe a screwdriver would work better.
I'm already making my list of driving and opposing forces. I'll let you know how it comes out.
Here are a couple of places to fine force field analysis information:
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